The bitter cold of Iowa winters can have a devastating effect on an unprotected human body.

Skin exposed to the cold air is prone to frost bite — the freezing of the skin.

The study of cryobiology works to determine what happens to the surface cells of the skin when they are exposed to cold weather. Cryobiology is the study of the effects of cold on organisms and plants.

The knowledge of the cell structure is important in determining the environment’s effects on cells.

The cell is surrounded by the plasma membrane, which regulates the intake and release of various foods and wastes that the cell uses. Inside the cell there are various organelles, little organs, which keep the cell alive and reproducing. One of the main organelles is the nucleus, which contains the DNA, the blueprint of the cell.

According to the American Medical Encyclopedia of Medicine and the Year of Health Hints by Don R. Powell, the freezing of the skin tissue can occur anytime when the outside temperature is below 32 degrees.

Thinner tissue, such as tissue in the nose, fingers, toes and ears, is more susceptible to freezing than other tissue.

The surface cells are the first attacked by severe wind chill, which will slowly freeze the cells and create the white appearance of frostbite on the skin. As the cells freeze, they die with possible blood vessel rupture and destruction. The white appearance is caused by the lack of blood flowing through the damaged area.

With the loss of the blood vessels, the area that contains the dying cells is without a method of transferring nutrients and waste. As the tissue dies, the possibility of gangrene occurs, which is the rotting of the matter. Then the frozen cells shut down.

Any area of the body that contains a great deal of blood vessel supply will be less vulnerable to the freezing of the top layer.

A person loses billions of surface cells a day. Although these surface cells are replaced, they are still defenseless against varying temperatures that are too high or low.

Like a burn, frostbite causes blisters if treated too quickly. Applying heat to the area causes more damage than good. Slowly heating the area to revive circulation will help the surviving tissue.

Also like a burn, frostbite with blistering can cause breaks in the skin. This exposed tissue is prone to infection. According to the text, frostbite victims should take a tetanus shot after exposure.